Toys for Tots many kids' last hope this holiday season

Toys for Tots many kids' last hope this holiday season

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Story Published: Nov 6, 2008 at 5:47 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 5:15 AM PDT

By KOMO Staff

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TUKWILA, Wash. -- The slumping economy will make this a tough holiday for many families. As many as 250,000 children will have to go without celebrations, and they'd have no hope if it weren't for Toys for Tots.

Money is tight, but Laurie Moe is still stocking up for Christmas. She can't bare the thought of her kids having to go without gifts come Christmas.

"I'm going a little nuts, I think," she said. "I would rather cut back on expenses with company and what I need or husband needs and spend money on kids for Christmas."

Moe has already canceled her company holiday party as well as her own vacation.

"There's a lot of little kids that aren't fortunate and don't get to have a Christmas like mine do," she said.

You could pack Safeco Field more than five times with the number of kids living in poverty in Washington state. And a lot of those families can't afford holiday presents. Their only hope is Toys for Tots.

The Marine Corps launched its annual Toys for Tots campaign at Toys R Us on Thursday.

Last year the campaign collected enough toys for 115,000 kids in King County alone, but there's no telling what the outcome will be like this year with more families in need and fewer families able to give.

"We're worried a little bit," said Robert Noyes. "With the economy going the way it is we foresee a bigger need this year."

Toys for Tots collects new, unwrapped toys for girls, boys, babies and teens. Donations can be dropped off at any Toys R Us or Babies R us stores.

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